Meditation
"Wade In the Water"
Pastor Kathleen Whitmore
July 30, 2009

Meditation: "Wade In the Water"
I love reading the Gospel of John.  It is like an action packed thriller where one event builds on the other.  In the sixth chapter, for example, the Passover is approaching.  Jesus is planning on spending it in Galilee in place of Judea because the religious authorities are plotting to kill him.  Yet despite all his good intentions, he keeps being delayed by one demand after another.  As a result he has been pushed to the point of exhaustion.

Just when he is convinced he can’t perform heal another person or preach another sermon, a crowd of more than 5,000 hungry people confronts Jesus.  He’s tired.  He wants to go to Galilee but, instead, he feeds the hungry crowd.  And what does he receive in return?  The crowd turns into a mob and threatens to kidnap him!  At this point Jesus knows he has had all he can take.  So, he goes even further into the mountains so he can be by himself.

In the mean time, his disciples climb into a boat and begin crossing the Sea of Galilee.  But it is dark, a storm blows in, and they panic.  Suddenly Jesus appears out of nowhere and starts walking on the water towards them.  When he is finally close enough to be heard, he cries out:  It is I; don’t be afraid (vs. 6).

But didn’t they have a right to be afraid?  After all, their lives were in jeopardy!  And what about us?  Aren’t there times when our fears are justified?  The answer, of course, is yes.  Could it be the point is we have to do something?  Sometimes you just have to wade into the water and trust that Christ will be there!